Shopping the rest of the NHL: Part 1

With the official start of the NHL offseason rapidly approaching and the 2018 NHL Draft only two weeks away, player availability via trade runs rampant this time of year. And in stark contrast to years past, the Hurricanes and some of their big name players are popping up regularly. At least as far as early June speculation goes, Jeff Skinner would rate at or near the top of any list of big name players who could be moved. Justin Faulk and Noah Hanifin are also allegedly available. The Hurricanes would undoubtedly love to unload three years of Scott Darling if the price is not too high. And so on…

So with the Hurricanes at least potentially offering higher-end players onto the market it seems only right to start looking around for what the Hurricanes might want in return.

Today’s Daily Cup of Joe for Friday is part one of at least two shopping the rest of the NHL for players who could play a role in a Hurricanes’ resurgence.

Buffalo Sabres

Ryan O’Reilly is the big name who has been bandied about as available. He is maybe not the pure offensive type center that might be ideal, but when you get the chance to add the type of center who can match up against anyone and hold his own, you do not look the gift horse in the mouth. O’Reilly’s contract situation is more favorable than first glance. His $7.5 million yearly cap hit for five years looks a little bit high. But when you look at the details, he has one more expensive year at $8.5 million before four years at a reasonable $6 million per year.

Chicago Blackhawks

The thing that the Blackhawks have that most entices me is actually not a player. Rather, it is the potential to take Scott Darling back without it being crazy. Nowhere else could one make a more plausible story for a rebound in 2018-19 for Darling. No doubt the Hurricanes would have to eat salary, probably even the maximum 50 percent, but at that price his $2 million cap hit starts to look like a fit for the Blackhawks who need a viable #2 given Corey Crawford’s medical situation in 2017-18.

Los Angeles Kings

If the Kings are interested in Jeff Skinner, Jake Muzzin would be an interesting return. Muzzin might be just the steady type of defenseman that the Hurricanes need to solidify the second defense pairing. With two years remaining on his contract at an inexpensive $4 million per year, he slots nicely price-wise as well. Tyler Toffoli is another player whose name seems to find its way into the rumor mill intermittently. Ideally, I think the Aho/Teravainen duo would benefit most from more of a power forward, but Toffoli has enough skill and finishing ability to be interesting. Like Muzzin, Toffoli has two years remaining on his contract at a mid-range $4.6 million.

Montreal Canadiens

I still like Max Pacioretty. The fact that he only has one season remaining on his contract is maybe not ideal, but I like him as the type of veteran finisher who would complement Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen and provide the fuel necessary to help them become point per game players. If Pacioretty joins and clicks with Aho and Teravainen, I think the logic and probability of re-signing increases. If he does not click, perhaps not re-signing him is not the worst thing. And no, I am NOT touching Carey Price and his Rick DiPietro like contract even though price is significantly better than DiPietro.

Ottawa Senators

The big name here is Erik Karlsson. With the arrival of the offseason, the number of teams who could make the salary cap math work increases. That said, the Hurricanes have both cap flexibility and the potential to offer a high-end replacement for Karlsson in Faulk if Ottawa sees him as top 4-capable. The fact that he would cost a bunch and could be gone after only one year when his contract expires could make Karlsson a high stakes gamble. But might the generational talent offensively on the blue line be worth it?

Toronto Maple Leafs

We are a couple years deep into offseason commentary suggesting that the Leafs’ forward heavy youth at the NHL level and the Hurricanes’ defense heavy youth could make for good trading partners. Lately, I have seen people try to pawn off a lesser player and still net Noah Hanifin in return. William Nylander is still the target. Nylander is very much in a the same category as Sebastian Aho as a young player who has already established himself offensively at the NHL level.

Vancouver Canucks

In terms of trying to build better and younger but also quickly, the Canucks’ #7 overall pick looks interesting. Could that pick be high enough to net a player who is NHL-ready either immediately or within a year? With the Sedins on the way out, the Canucks could be looking to start anew with a big addition. Could the Hurricanes list of allegedly available players be a match?

What say you Canes fans?

1) Which, if any, of the players noted do you think would be a good addition and worth an expensive price in trade?

2) Do you have any other players who you would target either from these teams or others?

Go Canes!

22 Comments

powerless
on June 7, 2018 at 6:08 am

I like your idea of doing business with Buffalo. But isn’t O’Reilly the guy who said he has lost his love the game? I don’t think we need another head case.

But I would like to see what they would take for their 6′ 5″ d-man Justin Falk.

Failing that…

Your idea of moving Scotty back to Chicago is a good one. Let’s see if we could put together a package deal whereby we get Connor Murphy. He is a beast. We need him on our blue line.

The unsubstantiated info I have heard out of Buffalo is that the problem(s) in the room there are/were Eichel and Kane. Kind of a “I’m great, but these guys suck” attitude. O’Reilly may need a breath of fresh air, but I don’t think the Canes sign on for that contract.

If you focus on actual salary not cap hit, O’Reilly’s contract is actually pretty good. He gets a big $8.5M in 2018-19, but after that his actual salary is only $6M per year which is pretty reasonable for a top 6 center in today’s market. The second tier of players seems to have pushed to $8M recently.

Canes take on Hossa’s cap hit (5 mill per year but only one mill actual salary) and Chicago takes Darling back. Good for both teams. Canes could throw in a prospect or a mid round pick if needed.

The Hockey Buzz Buffalo blogger says that Justin Falk has been barely adequate as a third pairing defenseman and that a team that relies on him in its core is not a top tear. As someone more familiar with his situation I take his word for it.

While it sounds good, I can’t see Chicago taking Darling back. They are too smart for that. Even trading Hossa’s cap hit for Darlings won’t help them that much. Actually, can’t Chicago do some kind of long-term injury status for Hossa like Philadelphia did for Pronger and get some cap relief?

Skinner for Muzzin would be a huge win for the Canes. Not so interested in another marginal skill forward.

I can’t see Pacioretty coming to the Canes at this point. If you made a trade for him you would have to have an extension in place. I can’t see Pacioretty signing on long term with a perennial loser like the Canes. Face it, that is what the Canes are to the rest of the league until proven otherwise. Maybe if the Canes made the playoffs this season things could change.

The same applies to Erik Karlsson.

Love to have Nylander, but who on the Canes would Toronto want? They have team defense problems and the three big names the Canes are dropping, Faulk, Skinner, and Hanifin, would only make those worse. Want to talk crazy? How about Jordan Staal for Nylander? That deal fits for both teams.

I think the Canes want players, not picks, so I highly doubt they will go after Vancouver’s first rounder. Saw a report that the Canes were interested in Grubauer. Makes sense and I think a goalie like that is the #1 interest for the Canes when the trading begins.

1) Those are two different questions. I think all the players you mention by name would be good additions. However, my guess is perhaps only Muzzin would be worth the price. Skinner for Muzzin makes sense–mostly if the team is committed to trading one of Faulk or Hanifin.

All the chatter about ROR is that he would cost a roster player plus a prospect plus a first or second round pick. That seems too high. I would love if the Canes committed to having two top scoring lines and two disruption lines, which would be what ROR would provide. But the value of ROR in that role is not worth the asking price.

I like Toffoli, but might prefer Tanner Pearson. Toffoli definitely has more goal-scoring, but Pearson is more physical (almost twice as many hits and more than twice as many blocked shots the past 3 seasons). Pearson also plays on the penalty kill. Because Pearson is a natural LW, from a holistic perspective I would prefer him in hopes of having him on a line with Lindholm and Svechnikov.

Speaking of a good LW fit, Pacioretty is the Rosetta Stone. He could, as you mention, make Aho’s transition to C more successful. Or he could also be an ideal LW for Lindholm and Svechnikov (keeping TAZ). If the price is Skinner plus a center prospect (Wallmark), that would be my preferred option. In addition to completing one of the scoring lines, he immediately upgrades the power play and adds an option for the PK.

The closest thing to a Jones/Johansson or Larsson/Hall deal is Hanifin for Nylander. I would be ok with that, but not sure Toronto commits.

Several sites have suggested that Vancouver has offered #7 for Hanifin. Depending on who is available, my preference is Wahlstrom, that might be a good deal. Though trading a former #5 who has three years of NHL experience for #7 is a bit hard to swallow.

2) The two other teams that seem to have the most interest in Skinner are Dallas and Colorado. If (a big if I know) one of those teams really wants Skinner as the piece to push them to the next level, then a deal for a roster player and a first round pick would be a reasonable deal. The problem is neither team has a solid LW/C who added to the 1st round provides a reasonable replacement for Skinner.

For Colorado the closest would be Soderberg and the 16th pick. Soderberg would provide the forward core with another veteran and help on the PK. Unfortunately, he only ever produces 15 goals/40 points, which is a little light.

Dallas offers the more interesting option if they are really high on Skinner. They definitely need another scoring threat after the big 3 of Radulov, Benn, Seguin. I like Janmark plus the 13th. The upside is that Janmark seems to be ready to break the 20-goal plateau and from what I read is an excellent skater so he would be a good linemante for Necas in the future. He plays on both special teams. There is also likely to be several tantalizing prospects available at 13. The downside is that Janmark has a chronic health issue related to joints, which might explain why he avoids contact. My guess is both the cost to Dallas and the uncertainty with the return for Carolina make this trade unlikely.

The other defenseman whose availability I have seen mentioned on fan sites is Justin Braun. Just having re-signed Kane, I don’t know if the Sharks would be interested in Skinner. Maybe Rask. Braun would definitely give Hanifin (if we keep him) a solid partner.

The Blackhawks do present an interesting situation. Chicago loves Darling. Might be the only fan base that cheers a trade for him after last season.

The Blackhawks want to get younger and faster from what sources I’ve read. Who doesn’t in the current NHL? The night the canes won the second pick in the draft I thought of a possible trade with Chicago.

I don’t want to get into a value debate but just something I considered between the two teams. Darling( 1 million retained), and Wallmark to Chicago for Anisimov. Chicago gets a fan favorite who plays well for them and a young center who slots behind Toews and Schmaltz.

Canes get a big center who I think would be a great fit between Zykov and the Russian. He brings a veteran presence, a little grit, and a fellow countryman to help out the new guys. He was mentioned in trade rumors around deadline so possibly available. Three years left on deal so Necas doesn’t have to be rushed.

Just a thought- virtual GM is easy. I would offer that it would be best to avoid Hossa. I know the deal with LTIR but it just seems best to let the hawks own that one.

I thought the Hossa deal would b perfect, if Chicago is willing to do it.
The actual cost to the Canes is a cool 3 million.
The team is not going to get close to the ceiling in the foreseeable future, I just don’t see that happening.
If Chicago is willing to do it I see no downside.
Even if Darling rebounds and plays like a champ in the windy city I won’t miss him and the Canes can go after a different goalie.

I don’t disagree that 3 million real money should not hamstring the canes and it would be less than a Darling buyout. Yet the LTIR is a strange thing. A lot of controversy over Hossa and his skin condition and the Hawks cap space.

If he came to the Canes and suddenly could wear equipment again where would that leave the organization? It is just a little too weird to me how that process works and the Hossa case in particular.

If we are going to move Skinner I would love to try and get Muzzin and a pick from LA. Use the pick and a prospect to pick up a goalie (Grubauer) if we don’t like any of the options in FA.

I also like Toffoli and Pearson from LA but if Skinner doesn’t bring a D-man back it makes it harder to move Faulk or Hanifin.

Braun would be another interesting option but I’m not as familiar with him.

I would be fine with ROR if we can get him for a package around Faulk; otherwise maybe we could pry someone like RNH from Edmonton for him.

I am very hesitant to deal Hanifin unless we get a great offer for him; Nylander is one I would take if the offer is there but not sure why it would be despite the rumors.

I agree with breezy to try and trade Darling back to the Hawks to take Hossa’s cap hit. I doubt it would work but it’s worth a shot; if we can do that I’m good with re-signing Cam as he was more than adequate while playing a back-up schedule last year.

I’m not as high on Patches as some of you but admit to not knowing much about him. I’ve seen enough people here talk about him that I wouldn’t be disappointed if we got him.

I’m curious if there is anyone in FA that we could be targeting. I’m seeing Rumors of Tavares being upset about Weight being let go from the Isles. Maybe we could target him for that last assistant spot and make a legit run at JT. I don’t think JVR will be worth anywhere close to the price and term he is going to be asking for.

Off-topic: If we don’t pick Svech at #2 it will have been the most elaborate ruse the Canes have ever pulled.

I go back and forth on ROR. We have reinforcements coming at Center so, while we do need more play-making, I’d rather see it on the wing. If a trade like that is going to require Hanifin, I’d like to see a younger player coming back: Bo Horvat, Dylan Larkin, Nylander/Marner, Trochek, etc.

There are other teams in the league with contracts issues. For example, I think the Corey Perry situation in ANA reminds me a little of the Eric Staal situation. Great player trending the wrong direction where a change of scenery might help. Not sure how to play that, but interesting to think about. I’d say the same thing but to a lesser extent about Bobby Ryan in OTT.

Jason Zucker in MIN is a player I really like and that team is rethinking itself.

As for a player worth paying up for, I can’t think of one. I’m not sure it’s ever worth overpaying.

1. I am not pulling for Ryan O’Reilly, solely because I have a bet with my roommate who we’d trade for, and I picked Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

ct, your point on Hanifin is spot on, but let’s be honest, the #7 pick is not enough on its own. In order to make that trade with Vancouver work, if I’m Waddell, I’m getting Demko or DiPietro (their two VERY talented goalie prospects) in addition to the pick. A reasonable trade could be had there, though trading Hanifin in any situation will be sad.

2. On that note, I want Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Both Faulk and Skinner are seeming fits for Edmonton so if we can work a deal, I think this could be a win-win for both sides. I’m skeptical on PP after the maturity issue reports but I wouldn’t complain if he were involved either.

Finally and most importantly, Matt I know you want to ditch Darling with a passion, but we can sign Grubauer to an equal 4×4 to Darling and still be paying $2.5 million less in total than the Canadiens are paying Price. My jersey is staying relevant another year.

Word is out that the Canes are shopping Skinner for a 1st round pick and a prospect. If that word is true we are not looking for a roster player for him which I find interesting – all along I had been thinking we would look to trade him for a higher-end top-6 with some term.

Regardless, our ask is expensive for a 1-year rental. I am not sure a team would take it unless it was a sign-and-trade.

I mean I’m pretty sure any GM worth their salt would already ping Skinner’s agent for a possible extension in addition to trade. We got a third just for the negotiating rights to Darling. Tacking a whole season on in addition is worth the bounce in value IMO.

My hope is that the word being out is to create some competitive bidding. I think an entire year of Skinner would be worth a roster player–probably only with 2-3 years left. The 1st and a prospect sounds like a trade deadline deal.

So stating a 1st and a prospect makes those teams really interested think about a roster player and a pick. At least that is what I would try from a position of negotiating strength. The behavioral economists say it is easier to raise the price once people are convinced that they can afford what you are offering.

If true, that tells me that the Brain Trust must believe we have enough offense in-house between our current roster, the #2 pick, those about to be promoted from CLT next year, and from the return from other trades in the works. Backfilling the pipeline in that world-view is more important than a return of a scoring forward or d-man.

I think Edmonton still makes a lot of sense in a trade because they have center depth and we have D depth. Send either Hanifin or Faulk for RNH. They might also be interested in dumping Lucic’s horrible contract and I wonder if we might gamble on him returning to form and adding some toughness to the team. We could send them one of our bad contracts Darling (who they might just buy out) or Rask.

Do not forget Skinner has a no trade clause. He would have to approve a trade. Do we think he wants out of here?

Journalist can start whatever rumors they want and there are no consequences for false information. Rumor – Trading Skinner, who is a 30 goal (average) scorer, for a first round pick and a prospect sounds very fishy to me. Maybe if it is the 3rd or 1st pick but does this really sound legitimate to people? I have red flags going up.

How about Hannifin to the Leafs for their goalie prospect Sparks and either Kapanen or Connor Brown?
The Canes get the best goalie prospect in the AHL and a young speedy right winger (both Kapanen and Brown are promising players that are victims of Toronto’s strength at right wing), Tor gets the upgraded 4D they need, assuming they believe Hannifin is the real deal, Faulk could fetch the same.
I am primarily interested in Sparks but this deal could work out for both teams, provided the Canes can backfill with a veteran D-man, e.g. by trading Skinner.